Hmm. I really liked Intruder in the Dust back when I read it last year. Now Coming Soon reports that it's going to be filmed.
The book's fairly minor as Faulkner goes--a mystery story revolving around a black man wrongly accused of killing a white man--and I found it interesting primarily because of its stream-of-consciousness prose. But it's got some very striking images--such as the young protagonist, his African-American friend and an old woman digging up a grave and finding--
Well.
This might prove interesting.
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Darkman
I've been going through a "Shadow" phase, looking up everything I could about the mysterious crimefighter with the laugh that chills the hearts of criminals everywhere. In the process of that, I've come across Darkman--the brainchild of Sam Raimi, of more recent Spider-Man fame. Apparently, Raimi wanted to create a movie version of The Shadow, but couldn't get the rights, so he created his own version, adding bits and pieces of The Phantom of the Opera and other horror elements. Since Wal-Mart had the "Franchise Collection" edition of the movies--the initial theatrical cut and the two direct-to-video sequels--I decided to pick them up and give them a look.
The first film features Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake, a scientist whose face is disfigured in an explosion triggered by the finger-collecting gangster Robert Durant. Westlake survives, and is rescued by a hospital doing experimental surgery on homeless men. The nerves delivering messages of pain to his brain are severed, which keeps him from suffering, but has the unfortunate side-effect of causing feelings of alienation and super-human strength.
It's easy to see why Raimi was selected for Spider-Man. Indeed, several visual tricks will crop up in the later movies--such as a dissolve from Francis McDormand (who plays Westlake's lover)as she stands looking at her destroyed apartment to the graveyard on the day of Westlake's funeral, as well as animations of Darkman's brain chemistry when he goes into a rage.
It's also interesting that this movie ends--as Spider-Man does--with the hero making a fateful decision between personal happiness and the "greater good." Of course, with Darkman it's more a matter of choice between love and his demons.
In many ways, however, Darkman is more successful than the webslinger's exploits. Neeson is an excellent actor and is able to bring out the desperation in the character's situation, as well as the insane thirst for revenge, even under the layers of makeup required for the role. And in his own face, he is hollow-eyed and haunted, conveying desperation and horror at what he has become. The villain--played by Larry Drake--is acted with cool understatement (quite a feat for a man with a finger-fetish). The only weak link is Colin Friels as the man pulling the strings; he is almost too bland about his crookedness, admits it up front to the first person to confront him with it, as if there is nothing unusual about it. In the right hands, he could have been even more chilling than Durant; as it is, he strikes the wrong note consistently.
Darkman wears its influences on its sleeve. In addition to "The Shadow" and The Phantom of the Opera, there is a definite unreality to the gang of crooks--including one with a machine-gun in his artificial leg--that calls Dick Tracy to mind (I'm thinking of the old black and white B-pictures like Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome, though I get the feeling the comics are pretty close). Larry Drake even looks like a Dick Tracy villain.
In all, Darkman is an excellent entry for anyone's library of crimefighters, and is highly recommended. From what I've seen of the sequels, they don't nearly live up to the theatrical film, but I'll cover them in due time.
The first film features Liam Neeson as Peyton Westlake, a scientist whose face is disfigured in an explosion triggered by the finger-collecting gangster Robert Durant. Westlake survives, and is rescued by a hospital doing experimental surgery on homeless men. The nerves delivering messages of pain to his brain are severed, which keeps him from suffering, but has the unfortunate side-effect of causing feelings of alienation and super-human strength.
It's easy to see why Raimi was selected for Spider-Man. Indeed, several visual tricks will crop up in the later movies--such as a dissolve from Francis McDormand (who plays Westlake's lover)as she stands looking at her destroyed apartment to the graveyard on the day of Westlake's funeral, as well as animations of Darkman's brain chemistry when he goes into a rage.
It's also interesting that this movie ends--as Spider-Man does--with the hero making a fateful decision between personal happiness and the "greater good." Of course, with Darkman it's more a matter of choice between love and his demons.
In many ways, however, Darkman is more successful than the webslinger's exploits. Neeson is an excellent actor and is able to bring out the desperation in the character's situation, as well as the insane thirst for revenge, even under the layers of makeup required for the role. And in his own face, he is hollow-eyed and haunted, conveying desperation and horror at what he has become. The villain--played by Larry Drake--is acted with cool understatement (quite a feat for a man with a finger-fetish). The only weak link is Colin Friels as the man pulling the strings; he is almost too bland about his crookedness, admits it up front to the first person to confront him with it, as if there is nothing unusual about it. In the right hands, he could have been even more chilling than Durant; as it is, he strikes the wrong note consistently.
Darkman wears its influences on its sleeve. In addition to "The Shadow" and The Phantom of the Opera, there is a definite unreality to the gang of crooks--including one with a machine-gun in his artificial leg--that calls Dick Tracy to mind (I'm thinking of the old black and white B-pictures like Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome, though I get the feeling the comics are pretty close). Larry Drake even looks like a Dick Tracy villain.
In all, Darkman is an excellent entry for anyone's library of crimefighters, and is highly recommended. From what I've seen of the sequels, they don't nearly live up to the theatrical film, but I'll cover them in due time.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bond 22 is "Quantum of Solace"
Commander Bond has the story--with plot details. I must say, Bond 22 is shaping up quite promisingly. (FWIW--Quantum of Solace is the title of a Fleming story--and though we've been assured that the plot of the film is original to it, still the story might be worth checking out).
It's an odd choice. Risico or Property of a Lady might have made more sense; what's more (unlike other Fleming titles,) this is a remarkable un-exotic title.
On the other hand, it sounds literate (unlike Die Another Day), and I trust this latest direction for the films, so we'll have to wait and see.
It's an odd choice. Risico or Property of a Lady might have made more sense; what's more (unlike other Fleming titles,) this is a remarkable un-exotic title.
On the other hand, it sounds literate (unlike Die Another Day), and I trust this latest direction for the films, so we'll have to wait and see.
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